Austin Craft Beer (from Google Images)

When I moved to Austin, I was saddened by the homeless population residing within the city. However, after a few months of struggling through my first year of college, I became immune to the heartbreaking narratives scrawled on cardboard in sharpie. The most common tidbits were, “Anything helps” / “God Bless” / “U.S. Veteran” and even the cliche, “Will work for food”. As a UT student, I thought I had seen every cardboard solicitation I ever needed to. But last Friday, at the stoplight of the southbound Riverside exit on 35, I saw a man, with a big smile on his face holding a sign that said: “Why lie / I need a beer”. I chuckled and thought to myself, “Hey man, me too.”

The entire population of Austin every Monday (gif from Google Images)

The documentary “Vaxxed”, directed by Andrew Wakefield, premiered in Manhattan on Friday. It attempts to discuss the link between vaccines and Autism using recorded phone calls of a former CDC scientist, who has repeatedly distanced himself from the film. Director Andrew Wakefield was a researcher in the UK, but was debarred after alleged misconduct both in data and in research methods. He ordered invasive medical procedures on autistic children. The film was removed from the Tribeca Film festival at the last minute following an outcry against it, and had a much smaller release. Some have praised the film for “going against the scientific community”. But make no mistake. Vaxxed is a fraudulent product. It ignores every ounce of scientific evidence, relying on Andrew Wakefield, the debunked doctor, to tell the story and provide pseudo-credibility. Furthermore, Vaxxed will only reinforce the fears of mothers with small children, and tell those with autistic children that it was the government’s fault their children are disabled. There is no link between vaccines and autism. There is however a link between a lack of vaccinations and outbreaks of diseases. Whooping Cough, Scarlet Fever, diseases we eradicated decades ago, are poised to come back, and are deadly to children. Misinformation should be condemned as such by the scientific community at large, with support from the government and community.

Elizabeth D. Herman hosts an editorial debate topic each week, with contributors invited to weigh in. On April 11, 2016 she suggested that State universities were neglecting the local population by accepting more out-of-state as they would pay out-of-state tuition. Herman, and many other contributors neglect to point out the enormous percentage of Californians who are enrolled at UC Berkeley, the school she cites repeatedly. According to the school itself, 80% of the students at Berkeley have in-state residency, with 10% from other parts of the US and 10% world students. The numbers don’t add up. The admission rates for out-of-state students is less than half the in-state admission rate at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UT Austin. It is harder and harder for out-of-state students like myself to get in to these schools. Regardless, every admission season there will be students who will complain that the cards are stacked against them. These students’ problem is not a small group like out-of-state students filling a school; it is a large group, their peers, who apply to 13 schools, and hurt everyone’s chances.

When February rolls around in Austin, it’s safe to say the weather is a bit of a toss up. Walking to class one morning, you could need long pants, a long sleeved shirt, a jacket, and a scarf, and still not be warm enough, and by some work of nature, you could be walking to class in shorts and a t-shirt the next and find yourself profusely sweating. Consider this your warning from a native Texan. If you come to Austin in the “winter months,” I wouldn’t suggest boxing up your summer clothes.